After more than a decade of studies, negotiations and debate, the European Union Parliament on March 13 approved a set of controversial and stringent new standards for vitamin and mineral supplements. Developed by the Congress of the EU as part of the member-state's harmonization of trade regulations, this Directive follows on the heels of last month's approved Directive on Traditional Medicines.

European Advisory Services, a Brussels-based food industry consulting firm, has published a 140-page report on the new EU Directive on Food Supplements for companies seeking detailed information.

For more information about the publication, consult www.eas.be, or contact European Advisory Services at telephone ++32.2.218.14.70.

The May issue of NFM will include information on the impact of these Directives and the member states who are participating, as well as the implications the Directives have for Codex, international regulatory harmonization and the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXIII/number 4/p. 9